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LakeQuality
C

Fish Lake

Jackson County, MinnesotaEutrophic

Fish Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 7 graded lakes in Jackson County, Fish Lake ranks 1 — in the top quartile locally.

Fish Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2025, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Fish Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. A documented public access point at Fish Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 45 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.5 ftD
Phosphorus45 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)57Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.101 m/yr6
Phosphorus Declining+10.5 µg/L/yr2
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 7 lakes in Jackson County

Nearby Lakes in Jackson County

DNR Reports & Resources

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Fish Lake. 1 report on file.

EPA Impairment Status

Fish Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Impaired biota (cause unknown)Mercury

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN32-0018-03 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.03 km)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2025-09-29

Monitoring stations: 4

Where to stay near Fish Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fish Lake in Jackson County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip.

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